St Petersburg & St Pete Beach
Across the bay from Tampa is neighboring St. Petersburg. Visitors, particularly travelers from northern states, come here to escape cold winters and enjoy the oceanfront beaches and mild climate.
Some unique areas to explore include the St. Petersburg Pier, the dockside shops and restaurants of Johns Pass, the quaint atmosphere of historic Pass-a-Grille, and the soft sand of Indian Rocks Beach.
St. Petersburg has many cultural tourist attractions, including several theaters and prominent art museums, like the Dali Museum and the Morean Art Center.
One of the most popular things to do when visiting St. Petersburg is taking boat tours that range from dolphin-spotting and eco-tours to recreational cruises. Nature lovers will appreciate the abundance of peaceful spots, like Caladesi Island State Park, which has remained undeveloped thanks to its offshore location and is full of beaches and nature trails.
St. Pete Beach is a fun and funky beach area with miles and miles of soft sand, just perfect for lazing about in the sun, splashing in the warm Gulf of Mexico waters, or settling in under your umbrella with the latest paperback thriller.
Located just offshore from St. Petersburg, this area is a mix of condos, hotels, and private homes. It’s a popular spot that draws in beach lovers from all across the United States. All these people in a positive state of mind give the town a lively feel.
Flying Into Florida Get A Cheap Rental Car
If you decide to rent a car during your Florida vacation, I recommend renting a car from Discount USA Car Rental.
Whenever I need to rent a car, I use Discount USA Car Rental you can use it at all major Florida airports and rent from large companies such as Hertz, Enterprise, Alamo, etc. at discounted prices.
Take In The Dry Tortugas
The Dry Tortugas are a group of islands located in the Gulf of Mexico, home to a national park that covers 100 square miles on these seven small islands. It is truly tropical paradise, which is why we are mentioning it as one of the best places to visit in Florida!
The waters surrounding these islands house the tales of pirates and hidden treasures which may be true. In 1985 over $450 million was found salvaged from this area in the form of silver and gold.
But better yet, the remoteness of this park keeps it intimate. The lack of crowds really allows you to visit the only tropical reef in the US. This is home to the third-largest tropical reef in the world, so why would you want to miss this? It is one of the best Florida destinations. And for more intro check out our articles on the Dry Tortugas or the Islands of Florida!
Where to Stay: Courtneys Place Historic Cottage & Inns
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Explore Stilt Houses In Naples Or Macro Island
The Cape Romano Dome House is an abandoned house consisting of six dome-shaped modules on stilts. It is one of the most unique sites in Florida, so of course we are adding it to our best places to visit in Florida list.
These dome homes are located about 300 feet offshore from Cape Romano Island, just south of Marco Island. Once a home to a millionaire seeking the serene beach life, these domes now provide shelter for birds and aquatic life off the Gulf.
Years of erosion have slowly engulfed this structure and submerged portions of it. The remaining domes are now part of a wildlife preserve and are now only accessible by boat. It is a hidden gem, and super unique! So make sure to see how this home has been full reclaimed by the sea. It truly is one of the best places to visit in Florida, and when youre done, check out other things to do in Marco Island!
Where to Stay: The Boathouse
To Participate In The Nightlife
If you’re looking for a good time, St. Augustine has it all! With a large variety of pubs, cocktail bars, and live music venues, this small city is able to cater to all kinds of nightlife enthusiasts.
These are some of the best places to go in St. Augustine:
– Tini Martini Bar: Enjoy delicious martinis and cocktails while listening to live music at this bar.
– Stogies Jazz Club & Listening: The unpretentious atmosphere of this jazz and blues club is perfect for listening to live music.
– No Name Bar: Relax with a beer on the terrace of this bar, which overlooks the Castillo de San Marcos.
– Trade Winds Lounge: Long popular with sailors, this bar is an iconic place to hear live music in a retro atmosphere.Ã
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Best Places To Vacation In Florida
Your plan for a vacation is long overdue, and all begins with this list of the best places to vacation in Florida. Vacations are planned easier with Rent with Leo. We have all the tips and ideas for your Florida travels. We are sharing a countdown of the top eight places to visit. Keep reading, and discover the best places to vacation in Florida.
Stroll Down Tampa Riverwalk
If you are in the Tampa Bay area, you are already at one of the best places to visit in Florida! But very specifically, we want to mention the Tampa Riverwalk. This beautiful 2.6 mile pedestrian walkway starts downtown near Channelside and goes up to the Waterworks Park in Tampa Heights.
Along the way you will find public art, history, parks, hotels, and more attractions. When this Riverwalk was completed, the designer wanted the walkway to highlight this beautiful destination and that is what it does!
A series of busts and statues line the walkway as well. So even if you want to take a free stroll down this walkway or if you decide to stop and visit a museum off the cusp, or return to the Straz Center for a theatre show or even eat some yummy food, you wont be disappointed. And if you are in the Tampa area, do make sure to peak at our article on 17 Fun Things to do in Tampa!
Where to Stay: Hotel Haya
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Amusement Parks To Visit
Now over to manmade parks. If you love high speeds and thrills then youre going to want to visit all the theme parks that Florida has to offer. And dont assume that these amusement parks are just for kids, theyve got rides like roller coasters and attractions that will have even the bravest of your bunch short of breath.
Disney World is probably the most well-known of Floridas theme parks but dont just stop there Universal Orlando Resort has the Island of Adventure containing the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. You can also check out Busch Gardens, Epcot Center, Universal Studios, Legoland, and more.
Where To Stay In Palm Beach
Situated on 140 acres of oceanfront property, The Breakers Palm Beach has been welcoming guests for more than 100 years. The Italian-Renaissance style hotel has 10 restaurants, two championship golf courses, a five-star spa, and a private beach club featuring four pools, five whirlpool spas, 25 poolside bungalows, and a range of on-site water sports.
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Naples Where To Stay In Florida For The Beaches
Today, were not talking about Italys Naples. Were going to explore virtually this city in Florida thats definitely one of my favorites! And Im sure youll love it too!
Im a sucker for picturesque places, the kind of spots that you recognize from postcards and travel agencies websites. Naples is precisely that! Known for its sugary beaches, the laid-back atmosphere, and world-class golf courses, this city in Florida is excellent for people who love to be on the beach all day, every day!
I cant say that Im that kind of person. Still, once in a while, I get this urge to go somewhere where I can chill on the beautiful beaches without a care in the world! And Naples looks like the perfect place for that
The citys name is not random. The beaches helped Naples gain its name, as most of them resemble the ones in Naples, Italy! And I agree, they sure share the same kind of vibe, and I cant wait for you to discover it as well!
Naples is not the only Italian-inspired city. Fort Lauderdale, located not too far from West Palm Beach, is also known as the Venice of America. You should head for a trip there as well and shop all day long on Las Olas Boulevard!
Things to do in Naples
- Catch a sunset near the iconic Naples Pier
- Spend a fun day on Naples Beach on the Gulf Coast
- Visit the Conservancy of Southwest Florida
- Swim and sunbathe on Lowdermilk Beach
- Play golf at Stonebridge Country Club
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Visit The Kennedy Space Centre
Located on Merritt Island in the Cape Canaveral area, NASAs Kennedy Space Centre is only 90-minutes from Orlando.
Home to all things space-related, its one of the best places in Florida to visit if youre interested in NASA, space and rockets.
Once here, you can experience what it is like to launch off in a space shuttle in the Visitor Centers Shuttle Launch Experience.
Plus, you can see what was going on during the Apollo era in the Centres Apollo/Saturn V Centre.
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Pirate & Treasure Museum
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Ever had some pirate-themed vacation ideas you wanted to try out?
Florida is perfect for this goal, thanks to the St. Augustines Pirate and Treasure Museum.
Founded by Pat Croce, this museum features 48 different exhibits and one of the largest collections of authentic pirate artifacts in the world.
Some of the incredible things on display in this museum include the likes of Blackbeards blunderbuss and some of the original gold pieces retrieved from his ship.
The museum also has informative exhibits about the life of various buccaneers and the treasures and weapons they had collected during their life while raiding the coast of Florida.
The museum is also home to a treasure hunt that will certainly keep your kids entertained from room to room though if youd like, you can tap into your inner child and try hunting down said treasure yourself too!
Address: 12 S Castillo Dr, St. Augustine, FL 32084, United States
Visit The Best Beaches
Florida is home to quite a few stunning beaches and theyre probably some of the most popular in the United States.
In fact, when in Florida, youre never more than 75-miles away from any beach For some of the clearest, bluest waters in the state, head to Clearwater Beach on the Gulf Coast .
Though, if youre further south, make a trip to Miamis South Beach for the ultimate beach-goer experience thats right in the city itself.
For something more unique, check out Venice Beach in the Venice and Sarasota areas, where you can find prehistoric sharks teeth washing up onshore.
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Castillo De San Marcos
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Castillo de San Marcos is an extremely historic location, found along the shore of Florida in St. Augustine.
The gray structure rises into the sky, made from stonewalls famous for being unbreakable.
Holes of different sizes punctuate the walls, showing off all the battles and wars that the fort proudly stood against as it served the land that would become Florida.
This fortress of sorts was built in the 17th century by Spaniards who needed to keep their trading activities well-protected.
The walls remained strong against British siege for even two months straight, and many cannonballs remain lodged in the stonewall to this day. But how are the walls so strong?
Well, according to the material engineering students who uncovered the secrets of Castillo de San Marcos, the walls are made from a sedimentary rock type named coquina that doesnt crack.
This is because it is composed of dead marine organism shells that have fluid particles, meaning it almost behaves more like foam than stone.
It was the best material the Spaniards could have chosen and now, this gem of a fort is one of the states many points of interest, providing gorgeous views of the city and bay.
Address: 1 S Castillo Dr, St. Augustine, FL 32084, United States
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Key West Butterfly And Nature Conservatory
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The Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory is a fantastic and fun way for butterfly-lovers to get some excitement.
Hundreds upon hundreds of butterflies and moths enjoy a natural habitat of beautiful flowers.
There are also flamingos and other exotic birds from outside of Florida to gaze upon!
Head to the conservatorys learning center to learn about metamorphosis and the life cycles of moths and butterflies, as well as how they eat, reproduce, and move.
There is also the Wings of Imagination art gallery that allows you to view vibrant technicolor renditions of butterfly-themed art.
So the next time youre in Key West, Florida, be sure to drop by!
Address: 1316 Duval St, Key West, FL 33040, United States
Florida Vacation Spots And Getaway Ideas For Your Next Trip
This guide to the best places to go in Florida include both coastal cities and inland destinations, and is perfect for planning vacations as couples, groups, and even a solo getaway.
If you were wondering what were the best cities to visit in Florida so you can DIY your own Florida road trip, this list has it broken down for you!
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Best Places To Visit In Florida In 2022
From the Disney World theme parks of Central Florida to the underwater paradise in the Florida Keys, there is truly something for everyone in the Sunshine State. Every part of Florida has something unique to offer.
We have explored the state from top to bottom and put together our list of the best places to visit to help you explore all the best spots to go in the Sunshine State from popular Florida destinations to local hidden gems.
Disclosure: Travel Lemming is an independent reader-supported blog. You can support us by purchasing via the affiliate links on this page, which may earn us commissions. Thank you!
To Cruise Aboard A Traditional Schooner
There’s nothing like sailing on Matanzas Bay aboard the Freedom Schooner, whether in the afternoon, at sunset, or under a full moon. The picturesque Bridge of Lions will open up so the tall, two-masted sailing ship can pass through. Several dolphins reside in the canal year-round, so keep an eye out for them along the way. A cruise on this historic ship is an experience you will never forget and will leave a lasting impression on you long after your return home.â
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Dry Tortugas National Park
One of the best places to go in Florida is certainly Dry Tortugas National Park, located about 70 miles outside of Key West, and only reachable by boat. You can find a 19th century fort and snorkeling here at the park, along with a variety of different birds.
The boat ride to the park is about two hours, so plan on spending the day here exploring the coral reefs and taking in the great views.
/14 Anna Maria Island
It is located approximately two miles from Sarasota on the Gulf Coast. Disallowing huge developments on the land preserves its distinctive old-fashioned feel. Even though it’s a small town, Anna Maria Island offers travelers a wide range of activities. Taking a horse ride on the beach and diving at Bradenton Shipwreck is heavenly. Additionally, the city is home to dolphins, turtles, manatees, and a bird sanctuary, which comes in handy for photographers.
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Where To Visit In Florida For The First Time
Florida is a prime vacation territory, with a lot of unexpected beauty from nature. So choosing the ideal vacation spot turns into a problem since you cant be in 2 places at the same time.
Visiting either Miami or Fort Lauderdale will be a good option because you will be killing two birds at the same time. Apart from the fact that these two places are close, they have a lot of relaxation and vacation experiences.
You can also choose a tourist location for the best places or cities to visit in the Florida Keys and Gulf Coast too in April. The tranquillity you find in these places is under-tapped by tourists.